Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
THE Government has directed the Civil Registry Department to prioritise Zimbabwean returnees from South Africa requiring identity documents, with officials instructed to provide prompt assistance across the country.
Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri said the Civil Registry Department had activated measures to ensure returning Zimbabweans receive identity documents without unnecessary delays as Government continues implementing programmes to facilitate their reintegration.
The Beitbridge District Registry has already deployed officials to the reception centre at the border post, where they are processing identity documents and providing information to returnees on procedures to follow once they reach their home districts.
“All provincial and district registrars must assist Zimbabwean returnees from South Africa promptly and without delay when they visit our registry offices across the country.
“Our officers at the Beitbridge District Registry are already stationed at the Beitbridge reception centre assisting the returnees with document processing as well as information dissemination to guide them on how to proceed when they reach their destination districts,” said Mr Machiri in an interview recently.
Last week, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Zhemu Soda, said Government had activated a Whole-of-Government response to support returning Zimbabweans, with measures also put in place to ease their reintegration.
He said, in line with President Mnangagwa’s directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade had mobilised logistics for the repatriation programme while additional manpower had been deployed to strengthen consular services.
“His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, has directed resources towards ensuring the safe and dignified return of every Zimbabwean who wishes to come back home. In compliance with this directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has ensured mobilisation of logistics around the repatriation of our affected nationals,” said Minister Soda.
“The Government has also deployed additional manpower to assist with the administration of the repatriation processes, ensuring that our consular services are adequately equipped to handle the scale of this operation.”
The minister acknowledged that some returnees had experienced delays in the processing of their repatriation, but said the hold-ups were a result of mandatory profiling procedures conducted by South African authorities.
“Until this process is complete, our citizens remain under South African jurisdiction. We understand the frustration and anxiety this causes, but we assure you that the Government of Zimbabwe is making every effort to navigate these bottlenecks,” he said.
To cushion returnees from the financial burden of relocating, Government has also introduced a special package of customs concessions under the immigrants’ rebate of duty.
Minister Soda said Treasury had extended concessions previously granted to Zimbabwe Exemption Permit holders to the current returnees, subject to verification to prevent abuse.
Under the arrangement, each qualifying returnee will be allowed to import one motor vehicle under suspension of customs duty, although Value Added Tax (VAT) will still be payable. He said the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) would apply flexible valuation methods to minimise the VAT burden.
He said no import permit would be required for vehicles more than 10 years old, provided they were purchased before December 31, 2022.
